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TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the other fex, and a beautiful mule. With all. refpe<^ to the 

 fcruples of the fa,ther, L think it would have been fair to 

 have kept the beautiful mule, and given the young female 

 Gingerite to his companion in the journey, Fecur Egzie, 

 who could have had no fcruples. 



Feb N ANDES fays he received the boy from the only view 

 of faving his foul by baptifm. I wonder, fmcc Providence 

 had thrown the girl firft in his way, by what rule of charity 

 it was he coufigned her foul to perdition by returning her, 

 as he was not certain at the time that he might not have 

 got a mule or camel in exchange for the girl; and then, 

 upon his owft principles, he certainly was author of the per- 

 dition of that foul which Providence feemed to have con- 

 duced by an extraordinary way to the enjoyment of all the 

 advantages of Chriftianity ; furely the care of Neophytes of 

 the female fex was not a new charge to the Jefuits in. 

 Abyflinia. 



It feems to be ridiculous for Fernandes to imagine that* 

 the fovereign of this little Hate called himfelf Gingiro,, 

 knowing that this word fignified a monkey. His enemies 

 might give him that name ; but it is not likely he would 

 adopt it himfelf. And the reafon of that name is ftill more 

 ridiculous ; for he fays it is becaufe the gallery is like a 

 monkey's cage. If that was the cafe, all the princes in Con- 

 go and Angola give their audiences in fuch places. Indeed,, 

 it feems to me that it is here the cuiloms, ufed in thefe laft- 

 mentioned parts of Africa, begin, although Gingiro is near- 

 er the coail of the Indian Ocean than that of the Atlantic. 

 The colour of the peoj^le at Gingiro is nearly black, llill it 



is- 



